Body Language Analysis No. 4727: Donald Trump deception – claiming to "put America first" – Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence

 

The above video clip is from Trump's appearance in Clinton, Iowa on January 6th 2024 – three years to the day after his attempt at insurrection. What follows is a body language analysis of crucial tells Trump displayed during this segment.

Note that just after the video begins (0:01), we see a brief display of what is known as a Loose Tongue Jut – a nonverbal signal of:

• Deception
• "I just said/about to say a stupid thing"
• "I've been/about to be caught"
• "I've been bad"

Be careful not to confuse a Loose Tongue Jut with a Tight Tongue Jut or a Wide Open Tongue Jut – as these indicate completely different thought-emotions. 

Then Trump says (0:1 - 0:4), "Unlike every other candidate in this race, with me you know, ..."

As he says this Trump twists his torso several times. In this context, this twisting is indicative of anxiety associated with Deception.

As you rewatch this video segment, please recall the expressions: "Twisting yourself into a pretzel", "Twisting the Truth", "Twisted Lies", etc. 

Note also, that whilst he's twisting his torso, Trump also displays a facial expression indicating an amalgam of both Contempt and Disgust.

Then Trump continues, "... in your heart, that I will always put America first – which I will, I think I've proven that...". Note that just after Trump says, "first", he shrugs (0:07) with both shoulders (more pronounced on his right [because that shoulder is lower due to his turn/twisted torso]).

Whenever Shoulder Shrugging should never be seen when a person is making a declarative statement ("...I will always put America first ..."), you know that they don't believe whatever they just said/are saying. 

This is also a good example of the verbal language disagreeing with the nonverbal language – in such cases, it's the nonverbal message that speaks the truth.

Did you notice Trump's eye closure during his shoulder shrugging? This signals yet another signal of lying – momentary lack of eye contact during the lie.

A second later is a great example of a Statement Analysis tell – with Trump's use of "I think I've proven that" (rather than "I've proven that" or "I know I've proven that") a hedging statement which betrays his low confidence and deception.

SUMMARY: In this 9 second clip, we see Donald Trump display 4 nonverbal signals/supportive signals and one verbal (statement analysis) sign of Deception – as well as his display of Contempt and Disgust.

All professionals, individuals, and businesses/organizations who want to (need to) dramatically improve their Body Language skills and nuance their understanding of Emotional Intelligence please email me: Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com Group and individual sessions available.

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Body Language Analysis No. 4361: Donald Trump "Jokes" about leaving office - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

On Thursday 15 November 2018, President Trump gave a speech at The White House conference on Supporting Veterans and Military Families. What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis of a crucial portion of this speech.

After about ten minutes of listing claimed accomplishments of his administration, Donald Trump said (continuing at 11:05), "... So, in addition to everything else, as you see, I did thee [sic] promotion of military spouse hiring across the federal government. (He then goes off script at 11:15) Fact is I've done a lot! I could s-, I could s- ¶ Good-bye everybody. Goodbye everybody Ω ∆ . That's a lot! ∆ . That IS a lot. That's more than anybody's ever even thought about - and I'm proud of it. And we're not finished yet. That's why § I figured I did so much I could leave now ∆  (Then the President goes back on script).

Just after he says, "... I could s-, I could s- ..." and as he's stepping away from the lectern, just as he starts to say "... Good-by everybody...", Donald Trump waves with his right hand/arm (during 11:19 and notated by the ¶ symbol).

He then immediately displays a single palm-down sweep, wave-off after his reiteration, "... Goodbye everybody...".

This nonverbal dynamic is indicative of feigned dismissal - a signal of a passive-aggressive emotional tone (during 11:21 and notated by the Ω symbol).

The President then immediately displays - what in nonverbal parlance is known as a Jaw Confessional (during 11:24 and notated by the ∆ symbol). A jaw confessional is a fast and short-lived lateral thrusting of the jaw. (The jaw [mandible] may be moved toward either one's right or left. Trump has a bias to displace his jaw to HIS left). A jaw confessional indicates what is about to be said (and less commonly, what was just spoken) is a source of some embarrassment and/or shame - ergo, it's a type of confession - and thus, importantly, has an element of truth.

He displays additional Jaw Confessional signal just before he says, "... That IS a lot..." (∆ during 11:27 - 11:28)

And another jaw confessional just after he says, "That's why I figured I did so much I could leave now ..." (11:37 ∆).

Note also during 11:35 (notated above by the § symbol, as he says, "why" ["That's why I figured I did so much I could leave now"]), President Trump shrugs both shoulders. Shrugging (which may be performed with shoulders, hands, thumbs, eyebrows, forehead, knees, feet, etc.) indicates the thought-emotions of:

• I don't know
• I don't care
• What does it matter?
• What could I do?

The President is rationalizing out loud. This is a glimpse at the man behind the curtain (albeit a rather thin one). As this nonverbal signal is not able to be captured in a still image, please watch the video to see this dynamic. 

SUMMARY:  When Donald Trump goes off script, he's very often confessing, projecting, and/or lying.

Moreover, careful observers will note - there's an element of truth in every joke - and in this example, it's substantial.

Donald Trump's verbal, paralanguage, and nonverbal behavior during this portion of his speech on Thursday 15 November 2018, indicates that he is considering resigning the office of the Presidency of the United States.

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See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4360: GE's CEO Larry Culp's CNBC Interview and Subsequent Stock Sell-off

Body Language Analysis No. 4358: Donald Trump, Pseudo-Christianity, and the Not-So-Subliminal Cross

Body Language Analysis No. 4356: Donald Trump: "When I can, I tell the truth"

Body Language Analysis No. 4354: Mass Shooting at Pittsburgh Synagogue

Body Language Analysis No. 4352: Donald Trump, Mohammed bin Salman, and Journalist Jamal Khashoggi

Body Language Analysis No. 4333: Ivanka Trump's response to Robert Mueller and Trump Tower Meeting

Body Language Analysis No. 4327: Trump and Putin just prior to Helsinki Press Conference

Body Language Analysis No. 4309: The Little Girl in Red, "Tender Age" shelters, and Empathy

Body Language Analysis No. 4295: Elizabeth Holmes, Theranos, and Red Flags

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Body Language & Emotional Intelligence - Analysis No. 4310: Donald Trump signs order stopping his policy of separating families at the border (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

On Wednesday, President Trump signed an executive order which stopped his previous policy of separating families at the US-Mexican border.

This new executive order will allow families who cross the border illegally to instead be detained together rather than being forcibly separated as has been occurring since 6 April 2018. The order specifies nothing with regards to reuniting the families who have already been separated. Moreover, another law (The Flores Settlement) will also have to be modified since it prohibits the government from holding children in detention for longer than twenty days.

What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis of Donald Trump during Wednesday's impromptu signing ceremony in the Oval Office.

DONALD TRUMP (continuing at 0:26): ... but we're going to keep - the families together. I didn't like the sight or the feeling of the families being separated. Ah, this is a problem that's gone on for many years as you know, with many administrations ...

During 0:30, as Donald Trump says, "... like ...", he shrugs his right shoulder.

A shoulder shrug transmits the thought-emotions of:

• I don't know
• I don't care
• What does it matter?

A unilateral shoulder shrug is an example of what, in body language parlance is called a Partial Emblematic Slip. The term partial is applied here because it's only used on one side. It's classified as an emblem because it's a universally recognized signal. And it's called a slip because it's subconsciously leaking - rather than being deliberately displayed.

A very significant statement analysis tell (a subset of paralanguage) is revealed when Trump says, "I didn't like the sight or the feeling of the families being separated. Here, the President emphasizes what HE didn't like or felt - not what THE FAMILIES - particularly the YOUNG CHILDREN must have been feeling. At a time when empathy should be a profound and highly focused theme, the President instead shows us his ego.

We see an example of a bilateral shoulder shrug during 0:37 as he says, "... as you ..." (How many others did you spot in this video?).

JOURNALIST (beginning at 4:38): Did Ivanka Trump show you photos of the children being separated from their families?

PRESIDENT TRUMP (over-talking): No, Ivanka feels very strongly, my wife feels very strongly about it. Ah, I feel very strongly about it, I think, ah, Ω anybody with a heart would feel strongly about it. We don't like to s, see [stutter] families separated ...

During 4:48, just before he says, "... anybody with a heart would feel strongly about it...", Donald Trump displays a Tight Tongue Jut (notated by the Ω symbol). A tight tongue jut signifies the emotions of disdain, disgust, and repulsion. Thus, Donald Trump is feeling disdain, disgust, and repulsion as he's entertaining the thought of other people having empathy (e.g., anybody with a heart...).

Another interesting statement analysis tell was demonstrated when Trump called his daughter by name - and yet didn't use Melania's name - instead referring to her as "my wife". This pattern in his word choice betrays the President's diminished affection for his third spouse. It's a significant verbal tell - even when used in isolation - but it's particularly glaring when juxtaposed next to a named family member.

You may have noticed that throughout much of this video, Mike Pence displayed significant anxiety as he repetitively pinched and picked his forefinger fingernails against his thumbnails. In this image, the Vice President is showing this anxiety tell on his right hand - although he exhibited this body language bilaterally.

SUMMARY: Donald Trump displays a significant lack of empathy on multiple occasions during this video. The thought of other people having empathy disgusts and repulses him. Moreover, he's being deceptive when the President speaks of not liking the sight of families being separated. On the contrary - such forced separation does not bother him.

Mike Pence's nonverbal behavior shows his significant anxiety throughout this Oval Office appearance.

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Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com

See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4308: The Little Girl in Red, "Tender Age" shelters, and Empathy

Body Language Analysis No. 4307: Jeff Sessions cites Bible Passage to Justify Separating Children From Parents

Body Language Analysis No. 4305: Donald Trump's Aberrancies - post-Summit Interview

Body Language Analysis No. 4303: Donald Trump, the G7 Summit, Women's Empowerment, and Rage

Body Language Analysis No. 4282: When Public Displays of Affection are More Frequent than those in Private

Body Language Analysis No. 4251: Cristiano Ronaldo's Bicycle Kick vs. Juventus F.C.

Body Language Analysis No. 4254: Tony Robbins, Nanine McCool, and the #MeToo Movement

Body Language Analysis No. 4248: My Extended interview re: Security Video of Stephen Paddock (1 October Las Vegas Shooter) - KTNV • Channel 13 Las Vegas

Body Language and Medical Analysis No. 4221: Why are Donald Trump's Pupils So Large?

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Body Language Analysis No. 4109: John Kelly, Robert E. Lee, and the US Civil War - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Last night Chief of Staff John Kelly was a guest on Fox News. A portion of that interview is included in the MSNBC video above (Fox has not yet posted a YouTube source). Some of the White House Chief of Staff's comments regarding Robert E. Lee and the American Civil War have drawn considerable criticism. What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis of this section of the interview.

JOHN KELLY (beginning at 0:55): Ah, I will tell ya that, that Robert E. Lee was an honorable man. [Deep inhalation] Ahhh, H, He was a man that ah, gave up, ah, gave up his - country to fight for his state which in, a hundred 'n' fifty years ago was more important that country - it was always loyalty to state first back in those days. [∑, Deep inhalation] Ah, now where it's different - today [Deep inhalation]. Ahhhh, but that, that, thee, the lack of an ability to compromise Ω ah, led to the Civil War. And, ahum, men and women of good faith on both sides made their stand where their conscious, ahum, had them make their stand...

Getting historical facts accurate is of the utmost importance (lest we rationalize what we want to be true) - but in the context of this article we're analyzing Nonverbal behavior (not history) - thus there's a profound distinction to be made: True history versus what John Kelly believes to be the true history.

Just after John Kelly says, "... it was always loyalty to state first back in those days ...", he inhales deeply and shrugs both shoulders (during 1:11 and notated by ∑ in the above transcript). In this context, his Shoulder Shrug indicates the thought-emotions of: "What could I do?", "What difference does it make?"

Please watch the video as the still image does not capture the dynamic and subtle nature of this nonverbal display.

A few seconds later (during 1:18 and notated above by Ω ) just after he says, "... Ahhhh, but that, that, thee, the lack of an ability to compromise" and just before he said, " ... ah, led to the Civil War", John Kelly displays a "Loose Tongue Jut" (not to be confused with a "Tight Tongue Jut" which has a completely different meaning). A loose tongue jut indicates the thought-emotions of: "I've just been bad", "I'm about to be bad", or "I just got/about to be caught" (Navarro). It's a body language manifestation of one's psyche scolding its owner for their own bad behavior.

Summary: John Kelly does, in fact, truly believe that Robert E. Lee was an honorable man - he's not political posturing here. However, a moment later, Chief of Staff Kelly was indeed lying when he said, "the lack of an ability to compromise, ah, led to the Civil War". He does not believe this.


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See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4108: Sarah Huckabee Sanders' White House Briefing regarding Paul Manafort and George Papadopoulos

Body Language Analysis No. 4106: Jordan's Queen Rania meets with Rohingya Refugee Children

Body Language Analysis No. 4104: Walter Cronkite Reaction to JFK Assassination

Body Language Analysis No. 4102: Senator Bob Corker - Donald Trump is an Untruthful President

Body Language Analysis No. 4097: Andre Agassi, Boris Becker, and a Tennis Tongue Tell

Body Language Analysis No. 4081: Catalonia's Referendum vs. Spain's Control

Body Language Analysis No. 4063: The Murder of Laci and Connor Peterson - Scott Peterson

Body Language Analysis No. 4031: One Gesture to Never Use When Condemning Neo-Nazis

Body Language Analysis No. 3983: Female Kurdish sniper fighting IS narrowly cheats death


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Body Language Analysis No. 4053: Donald Trump Regarding DACA - "I Have a Love for These People" - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

On Tuesday US Attorney General Sessions announced what had been long anticipated - that The Trump Administration is rescinding DACA. Afterward, during Q & A on meeting regarding tax reform, President Trump was asked about that decision. What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis.


KRISTEN WELKER (beginning at 3:01): Mr. President, how is your DACA decision 'treating people with heart'?

PRESIDENT TRUMP: Well I have a great heart for the - folks we're talking about - a great love - for them *§ - and people think in terms of children, but they're really young adults. Ah, π I have a love for these people and hopefully, now Congress will be able to help them and do it properly...

In the video above, during 3:11 (notated with *), just after he says, "... I have a great heart for the - folks we're talking about - a great love - for them...", Donald Trump shrugs - but only his left shoulder and at the same time he displays a long-duration blink while looking down to his right. This Unilateral Shoulder Shrug is one example of what is known as a "Partial Emblematic Slip".

It qualifies as an emblem because a shrug has a near universal meaning of - "I don't know", "I don't care", "What does it matter?" - the first two of which are particularly applicable here. It is partial in that it only occurs on one side (his left). And it's a slip because it "leaks" out - he doesn't intend to shrug here. It is subconsciously driven.

This Partial Emblematic Slip is amplified by his simultaneous extended blink while looking down to his right. 

About a second later, during 3:12 (notated by §) during the same extended blink-looking down to his right, President Trump displays a "Loose Tongue Jut" (not to be confused with a "Tight Tongue Jut").

President Trump exhibits a second Loose Tongue Jut during 3:16 (notated by π), just before he says, "... I have a love for these people and hopefully, now Congress will be able to help them and do it properly...". This also occurs at the same time he is looking down to his right in an extended blink.

A "Loose Tongue Jut" indicates the thought-emotions of "I've been bad" or "I've been caught" (Navarro).

Summary: President Trump's nonverbal behavior indicates that he does not care about the children and adults affected by DACA. These same signals also correlate strongly with deception when he says, "... I have a great heart for the - folks we're talking about - a great love - for them..." and "I have a love for these people and hopefully, now Congress will be able to help them and do it properly". Moreover, there is a complete absence of any nonverbal empathy displays.


Group Appearances and One-on-One
Online Courses Available 
702-239-8503
Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com


See also:


Body Language Analysis No. 4052: Hitler's Cryptorchidism and Emotional Dissonance

Body Language Analysis No. 4050: Lady Di - Alpha vs Alpha-Beta Hybrids

Body Language Analysis No. 4048: Lady Di - Ambassador of Empathy

Body Language Analysis No. 4046: Melania Trump, Hurricane Harvey, and "Destroying Empathy 101"

Body Language Analysis No. 4039: Blue Angels, Surprise, Emotional Processing, and Empathy

Body Language Analysis No. 4019: John Kelly and Donald Trump in the Oval Office

Body Language Analysis No. 4000: Garbiñe Muguruza, Wimbledon, and Sincerity

Body Language Analysis No. 3951: Angela Merkel, Donald Trump, the G7 Summit, and The Paris Agreement

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3892: Sean Spicer to April Ryan, "Stop Shaking Your Head"


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